CYBER CRIME A MENACE IN SADC-Eswatini Prime Minister

By Esther Mwaata Katongo.

His Excellency, the Right Honorable Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Mr. Ambrose Mandulo Dlamini says Cross Border Crime is a menace facing many countries as criminal elements are becoming more professional and fully exploiting the changes brought by explosion of the internet and digitalization.

Mr. Dlamini said that in line with the growing sophistication, criminals were now operating in syndicated fashion and network across borders, perpetuating a wide range of crimes that are a serious threat to the safety and security of the Southern Region.

He said this today, 29th April, 2019 when Inspector General of the Zambia Police, Mr. Kakoma Kanganja who is also Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO) Chairperson paid a courtesy call on him at the Royal Kingdom of Eswatini Cabinet Office.

The Prime Minister said besides jeopardizing the general safety , cross border crimes have emerged to be an impediment to the aspirations of many countries for sustained social – economic development.

“Drug trafficking destroys the future of the youth and contributes to violence in societies, including Gender Based Violence. The illicit and counterfeit goods and commodities leads to businesses incurring huge losses hence jeopardizing employment creation. These are few of these crimes with a cross border dimension which as Government we have observed to imperil the social – economic stability of the region,” he said.

Mr. Dlamin said it was disturbing to note that the proceeds from these crimes were being used not only to fund other despicable criminal escapades by organized syndicates but also result in the swelling of parallel economy which threatens Government economies through massive loss in tax revenue.

He called on SARPCCO to continue being resilient and diligent by ensuring that all forms of criminality across the region are brought under control.

“We also urge all Police Services /Forces in the region to continue being encouraged to work as a united front in terms of sharing intelligence and operational best practices. This will enable all Countries to be on the same crime capacity fighting wavelength,” said the Prime Minister.

He further called for harmonization of operational practices, legislations and training so as to ensure ease in extradition of criminal fugitives and repatriation of exhibits recovered in other countries.

He however commended SARPCCO for the continued support and vibrancy adding that the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini was counting on the support of SADC and SARPCCO to achieve their vision as a Country.

“On behalf of His Majesty’s Government and also in my capacity as Minister for Police Affairs, I wish to pledge our continued support to SARPCCO through ensuring that all resolutions adopted by the organization are adhered to, as well as assisting whenever we are called upon to do so,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the SARPCCO Chairperson who is also Inspector General of Police, Mr Kakoma Kanganja said he was in Eswatini on a Monitoring and Evaluation visit with regards to the implementation of the decisions passed at the meeting of the SADC Chiefs of Police Sub Committee of the Inter State, Defence and Security Committee held in Angola in May, last year. 

Mr. Kanganja thanked His Excellency the Right Hounorable Prime Minister for taking time off his busy schedule to meet him and his delegation to discuss issues relating to security in the region.

He said SARPCCO greatly appreciates the support that the Kingdom of Eswatini has been rendering towards the organizational activities which includes capacity building and training and joint operations.

He assured the Prime Minister that SARPCCO will work tirelessly to bring crime levels in the Southern Region to manageable levels.

And the Royal Eswatini Police Service Acting National Police Commissioner, William Dlamini said the Kingdom of Eswatini attaches great importance to the activities of SARPCCO owing to the fact that the idea of establishing the regional body was conceived in that Country at a meeting held at Mananga Training Camp, in Libombo region in 1994.

The Inspector General of Police is in the Kingdom of Eswatin in his capacity as SARPCCO Chairperson. He is accompanied by Director of Zambia Police Criminal Investigations Department, Mr. Michael Nsofwa and the Head of the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for  Southern Africa based in Harare, Mr. Mubita Nawa.

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